Finite Element Analysis of Artificial Lymphatic Drainage System for a Vascularized Microfluidic Scaffold

Abstract

Regenerative medicine allows replacement of damaged tissue due to injury or disease. Vascularization is one of the requirements of the tissue in order to survive and regrowth. One approach to overcome this problem is using microfluidic vessels combined with the drainage channel inside the scaffold. In this study, the scaffold is made of type I collagen with a porosity of 81 percent. The geometry of the vessel follows Murray’s law. The effect of parameters such as vascular hydraulic conductivity, scaffold hydraulic conductivity, drainage channel radius, and perfusion pressure on transmural pressure and shear stress was investigated. Simulations on the vessel with a diameter of 100 μm have shown the maximum interstitial velocity of 50E-9 m/s, maximum interstitial pressure of 1.34E+3 Pa, and minimum transmural pressure of 1.49E+3 Pa. Average shear stress on the wall of the vessel was 10 dyn/cm2. It was noted that decreasing the pressure at the drainage channels outlet, reducing vascular hydraulic conductivity, increasing scaffold hydraulic conductivity, and increasing drainage channel radius will create and maintain a positive transmural pressure in the scaffold.